You + Videos = YouTube!

So, you want to express your views? Start your own online talk show? Or you just want to upload music, instructional, and/or educational videos? Then YouTube is the place for you! YouTube was created in 2005 and has continued to expand and improve its features since it began.

Here’s a video about the basics of YouTube and why you should have a channel:

YouTube allows members to create their own unique channel which is their account and it includes videos they’ve uploaded, information about them, as well as statistical information about their channel. The statistics include the number of subscribers their channel may have, the number of friends they have, and the number of channels they’ve subscribed to as well.

YouTube allows users the opportunity to upload videos that interest them or videos of themselves that have them discussing major issues, current events, or just any topic they choose to discuss. This allows members to leave comments, like/dislike the video, and/or rate the video. Along with all of these features, YouTube gives its members the opportunity to subscribe to the channels of their favorite members. This way, once a user logs in, any new videos uploaded to a subscribed channel will appear on their homepage as well as other suggested videos that may interest the user.

Just as I’ve stated above, YouTube videos can be on a range of different subjects. They can be popular music videos that a person uploads, but make sure to be careful and aware of the guidelines of YouTube as well as copyright violations or your channel may be suspended. So if you choose to upload music or music videos by other artists, make sure that when you use the content of others be very careful to let other users know that the content is not owned by you in any way.

Here is a music video by the Black Eyed Peas:

YouTube can also be a way to create your own show with topics/issues that interest you. By doing this, members can have other users comment, rate, and subscribe to their channel in order to create discussion within their YouTube community.

The Skorpion Show is an online talk show on YouTube in which Makael and Skorpion (Kevin) give their opinions and discuss issues in entertainment news as well as other current events. Thus, if you want to watch it, be warned that it is an online talk show, therefore, there is more profanity in this show in contrast to a show on television.

Here is one of the cleaner videos in which Skorpion asks his viewers for their feedback about the Skorpion Show:

Another type of video are the aspiring dancers, artists, singers, songwriters, producers, etc. YouTube allows all people the opportunity to show off their talent for other users, recording companies, and other producers.

This is a video of a new artist named Dondria. She was discovered by Jermaine Dupri of So So Def Recordings. Here is the video of her singing Ave Maria by Beyonce’:

Another type of video is the instructional/educational videos in which members upload videos discussing the steps of a process such as how to make oatmeal raisin cookies or how to make your hair wavy.

Here is a video of Toneitup.com’s Katrina making a protein fruit smoothie:

These are only a few of the many ways you can utilize YouTube. Use it to advertise your business, get the opinions of others on controversial issues, or just to have fun by posting videos of you with your friends. Whatever you decide, just make sure you be careful not to get flagged and most of all to have fun!

Everybody uses YouTube!

🙂

A podcast! What is that?

Podcasts are a series of media files (audio or video) that are added to a website in episodes regularly and can be seen on various websites and can even be downloaded, well if the site allows it. Certain podcasts are illegal to download, so be careful if you ever decide to do so.

So, why are podcasts so popular? They can be used to record class lectures to present weekly/daily to a distance or online class, they can be used as a type of radio or news show that broadcasts regularly, and/or they can be various updates or announcements made about a particular product or service from a company.

An example of a funny podcast is this audio from a Spanish channel that uploads them regularly. They can be a variety of things from jokes all the way to interesting news facts. Check out the link below!

Chistes en Espanol or Jokes in Spanish!

So, if you’re thinking about doing your own podcasts, then go for it. All you have to do is record what you want to show, upload it the media file, and then others can view it or download it (if you allow it). Podcasts can have many uses, you just have to figure out which ones you want to participate in and/or which ones you enjoy and can LEGALLY download! Happy Podcasting!!! 🙂

So, you want to start an internet forum…

But what is that? They are easier and relate to you more than you think even though some of you might not know exactly what they are or how they work. If you have an opinion, want to express it, and want to discuss it with others, then a forum is the thing for you. Forums, also known as message boards, are online discussion boards. Members have the opportunity to express their opinions in a place where they can find others that agree or disagree with what they have to say. So, how can you start one of your own? Here’s how:

How to start an internet forum?

Forums can also have more professional purposes. Many businesses start forums in order to get some buzz around their company and/or to generate more revenue by selling merchandise and/or their services. Business forums tend to discuss topics such as customer service issues with that particular business, favorite products/services offered, products/services customers may not like, and ways the company can improve different aspects of their business to better serve their customers. A great example of a business forum is this marketing forum dedicated to discussing marketing tactics and ways to make money online: Internet Marketing Forums!

Forums don’t only have to be about discussing your opinion on a certain topic, they can also be to help you answer a question that you may not know the answer to or may need clarification on the subject. Many people start forums in order to find out the answer to very confusing subjects or to help them clarify very ambiguous elements that they may need help with. Forums allow users to get many different answers as well as full explanations on the given subject.

This video is a more helpful and visual representation of forums:

Now that you know a little more about forums and the many benefits of them, create your own! Just make sure you practice internet forum etiquette!